Folding chair



JuhZS, 1932. c LIBERMAN 1,865,323

' FOLDING CHAIR Filed April 22, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR WITNESSES(Zar/alzZe/wm/z ATTORNEY C. LIBERMAN June 28, 1932,

FOLDING CHAIR Filed April 22, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .H n mZ m NJ w W MW5 Z5 BY Z0 Patented June 28, 1932 STATES CHARLES LIBERM'AN, OFBROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO VIILLIAM GARMAN, OF NEWYORK, N. Y.

FOLDING CHAIR Application filed. April 22,

This invention relates to an improved folding chair or stool, and hasfor an object to provide a construction which is exceptionally strongand simple in its structure, the arrangement being such that the partsmay be disconnected and then folded to a compact assemblage.

Another objectof the invention is to provide a folding chair wherein atubular stem is used and adapted to receive the legs of the chair whenfolded, while the supportin arms lie snugly against the exterior surfacewhen they are folded, whereby a compact package is presented.

An additional object, more specifically, is to provide a folding chairor stool formed with a tubular stem or standard with top and bottomarms, one set of arms acting as legs and the other set as a seatsupporting structure the arran ement bein such that when unfolded thearms will remain in place to be ready at all times to be disconnectedand folded so to be inserted into the standard or snugly fit the outsidethereof.

In the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a chairor stool disclosing an embodiment of the inven tion;

Figure 2 is a side view of the chair shown in Figure 1 with the partsnested or folded and with the seat member eliminated;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the assemblage shown in Figure 2 withthe seat member wrapped around the same and held in place by suitablebinding members;

Figure 4 is a vertical central sectional view through Figure 1, the samebeing on a large scale and with certain of the parts being broken away;

Figure 5 is a sectional view through Figure 4 on the line 5-5;

Figure 6 is a sectional view through Figure 4 on the line 66;

Figure 7 one of the supporting arms as shown in Figures 1 and 4;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary top view showing one of the corners of theseat member illustrated in Figure 1, a portion being broken away forillustrating the interior structure;

is a detailed perspective view of 1930. Serial No. 446,324.

Figure 9 is a detailed fragmentary side elevation partly in sectionshowing a modified form of standard to that illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 10 is an enlarged detail perspective view of one of the fittingsshown in Figure 1.

Figure 11 is an enlarged vertical perspective view of the lower fittingshown in Fig ure 1.

Referring to the accompanying drawings by numerals, 1 indicates a hollowstandard which may be made of metal or other desired material, and whichis supported when in use by the legs 2, and which carries arms 3 towhich seat member 4 is removably connected. The standard 1 asillustrated parti cularly in Figure 4 is hollow and is provided withapertured end members and with pins 5 and 6 which may be mounted inplace in any desired manner. As shown in Figure 4, the pins 5 and 6consist of comparatively large heads and a reduced threaded sectionscrewed into the standard. These pins coact with the respective cups orfittings 7 and 8. Fitting 7 is provided with a bayonet slot 9accommodating the respective pins 5, while bracket 8 is provided with abayonet slot 10 for accommodatin the pins 6. 7

As illustrated in Figure 4;, the bottom of fixture 7 is provided with athreaded aperture into which the end of screw 11 is screwed, the screwhaving a head which at different times coacts with the washer 12. Thiswasher 12 is loosely mounted on screw 11 and removably engages thebottom of the standard 1. The fixture 7 is provided with three openings13 having vertical portions 1% and horizontal portions 15, whereby thebent ends 16 may be readily inserted into the space or chamber 17between the bottom of the fixture or fitting and the washer 12.

The extension 16 is formed identical with the extension 18 of the arms3, as shown in Figure 7. From Figure 7 it will be notedthat these armsare provided with thickened portions 19 and 20 having shoulders 21 and22 which engage the fitting 7 in the case of legs 2, said engagementbeing at opposite sides of the vertical portion 14: of the slots 13. Thesame arrangement is provided with regard to the arms 3.

From Figure 4 it will be noted that the fitting 8 is provided with anopening or notch ""7323 having a vertical portion 24 and a hori- Jzontal portion 25 whereby the end 26 may fit into the chamber 27 formedbetween the end plate 28 and the top plate 29 of fitting 8. If desired,a filling washer 30 may be arranged on the top of the end plate 28.

A bolt 31 extends through the aperture in the end plate 28 and throughplate 29, said bolt being threaded at its upper end and accommodatingthe winged nut 32.x .Plate 29 is provided with a tubular extension 33having slots 34, said slots accommodating the pins 34 which extendthrough bolt 31 and fits into both of the slots, as illustratedparticularly in Figure 5. This prevents the bolt 31 from rotating whenthe nut 32 is rotated for tightening the parts. The head 31 on bolt 31is elongated, as illustrated in Figure 6, whereby it may be insertedthrough the opening 28 in plate 28 and rotated to the position shown inFigure 6. This rotation takes place when the fitting 8 is slid down overthe pins 6 and then rotated to the posltion shown in Figure 1.

After this has been done and it is desired to press the plate 29 againstthe end extension 26, nut 32 is screwed down and a desired clampingaction is secured. The movement of the parts is very small as they areintended to fit rather snugly but in construction a cer- 55 tain amountof loose motion is present and bolt 31 takes up this loose motion andalso in a certain sense locks the fitting 8 to the pin 6 so that therewill be no unscrewing or disengagement.

Arms 3 at their upper ends are formed with extending tongues or holdinghooks 35 for the seat member 4. This seat member is formed of canvas orother material and hemmed at the edges. As shown in the drawings thereare three arms and consequently the seat member 4 must be formedthreesided, although it four arms were used the seat member could becorrespondingly formed.

At each corner, as shown in Figures 1 and 8, a reinforcing bar of wood,metal or other material 36 is arranged in the hem so that when the hook35 extends through aperture 37 the tension will be distributed throughthe bar 36 and consequently the parts will not readily tear. 7 I

It will be noted that the fittings 7 and 8 are identical except thatfitting 7 has athreaded aperture for the screw 11, and fitting 8 has atubular extension 33. The bayonet slots 9 and 10 and the openings 13 and23 are identical in form, as illustrated in Figure 10, whereby theextensions 16 and 26 are accommodated in the same manner. The lower endsof the legs 2 are beveled so as to engage the floor flatwise, while theupper ends of arms 3 are formed with tongues or hook members 35, asshown in Figure 7, so as to hold seat member 4 in place.

When the parts are in their assembled position, as shown in Figure 1,and it is desired to make a package of the chair, nut 32 is unscrewedfor loosening the clamping action on pin 6. The seat 4 may be firstremoved by merely pulling seat ofi hooks 35 and then the fitting 8rotated and pulled so as to disconnect it from the standard 1. Fitting 7is also disconnected in a similar manner. When fitting 7 has beendisconnected washer 12- is loose on screw 11 and, consequently, willpermit the legs to be nested and inserted into the lower end of thestandard 1, as shown in Figure 2.

In removing the fitting 8 the head 31 of bolt 31 is pulled through theopening 34 and nut 32 is loosened to such an extent that arms 3 may befolded towards each other so as to fit against the upper surface of thestandard'l, as shown in Figure 2.

When the parts have been folded or nested in this manner the seat 4 maybe wrapped around the assembled members and the seat member secured by astring, rubber band or other retaining means 38, as shown in Figure 3.Vhen in this condition the seat may be readily carried in the hand ormay be readily stored as desired.

When it is desired to use the seat a reverse action is carried out,namely, the securing band 38 is removed and fittings 7 and 8 screwed onto the standard 1 and nut 32 tightened. The seat member 4 may be appliedeither before or after nut 32 has been tightened.

It will be understood that the parts may be quickly assembled ordisassembled. It will also be noted that by reason of the shoulders 21and 22 the legs and arms cannoti be removed from their respectivefittings except by forcing the outer ends through the openings 13 and 23respectively. To do this it is necessary to remove the screw 11 and thebolt 31. By reason of this structure the legs and arms are readilyfolded but cannot accidentally become disengaged from their respectivefittings, although they may be removed at any time as just described.

In Figure 9 will be seen a modified form of the invention wherein astandard 1 is the same as the standard 1, except that it is providedwith threads 38 and 39 at the respective ends, said threadsaccommodating internally threaded fittings 7 and 8, the fittings beingof identical structure as the fittings 7 and 8 except that they arescrewed in place instead of being held in place by the arrangement ofbayonet slots and pins illustrated in Figure 1. By reason of thethreaded structure the fittings 8 and parts are held in place withoutthe use of bolt 31 and its associated parts. I

What I claim is 1. In a folding chair, a standard, means for supportinga seat member at one end of said standard, a plurality of legs arrangedat the opposite end of said standard, each of said legs having a bentenlarged extension, and means coacting with said bent enlarged extensionfor securing the legs to the lower end of said standard, said meansincluding an 1 inverted cup shaped fitting having a notch for each ofsaid extensions, a washer coacting with the lower end of said standard,and a retaining member loosely engaging said Washer and rigidly securedto the end of said fitting. 2. In a folding chair of the characterdescribed, a seat member, a standard, a plurality of arms for mountingthe seat member on the standard each of said arms having a bent end, acup-shaped fitting connected 30 with said arms and slidingly fitting onsaid standard, said fitting having a closed end and an apertured sidewall, there being one aperture for each of said bent ends, and aclamping structure for clamping said fitting on said. standard, andclamping said bent ends between the end of the standard and the closedend of said fitting.

3. In a collapsible seat, a standard, a plurality of collapsible legsremovably connected with said standard, a plurality of collapsible armsremovably connected to said standard, each of said arms having a curvedtongue extending from one end thereof, a seat member removably connectedwith said arms, said seat member comprising a body of fabric having anopening for each of said arms, a reinforcing holding bar arrangedadjacent each of said openings and arranged to distribute the strain onthe fabric to each of said arms,

said bars being adapted to rest on the ends of the arms while saidtongues overlap part of said seat members and said bars.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,this 21st day of April, A. D. 1930.

CHARLES LIBERMAN.

